DUMPING OBSOLETE TVs

Next year, millions of televisions across the country will become obsolete. That’s because the government is phasing out analog television signals. That means Americans will be tossing out one of the most toxic items in their home – their old TVs. Mark Brush has more:

Transcript

Next year, millions of televisions across the country will become obsolete. That’s because the government is phasing out analog television signals. That means Americans will be tossing out one of the most toxic items in their home – their old TVs. Mark Brush has more:

Old televisions use what’s called a cathode ray tube to project your favorite TV show into your living room.

On average – these old TVs contain four pounds of lead. That’s in addition to other toxic chemicals such as cadmium, mercury and arsenic.

Zac Trahan is with the National Electronics Takeback Coalition.

Trahan says there are many companies who claim they recycle the old TVs – but most of the time they’re just sending the toxic chemicals overseas:

“Some of the lead that is exported in computers and TVs to China – appears to be a source of the lead being used to make children’s jewelry which is then exported back to the U.S. where it can poison American children.”

Trahan’s group is trying to get TV manufacturers to take back the TVs they made.